• Below Ten Thousand Feet
    • Symptoms of an Anxious Mind
    • A Love Letter to Our Elders
    • Allegiance
    • Not My Daughter
    • Pre-Abandoned
    • Master-Planned
    • Distressed
    • Bio
    • Exhibition History
    • Press
    • Writing
    • Lectures
    • Curatorial Work
  • Contact
Menu

Amanda Dahlgren Photography

  • In Progress
    • Below Ten Thousand Feet
    • Symptoms of an Anxious Mind
    • A Love Letter to Our Elders
  • Projects
    • Allegiance
    • Not My Daughter
    • Pre-Abandoned
    • Master-Planned
    • Distressed
  • About
    • Bio
    • Exhibition History
    • Press
    • Writing
    • Lectures
    • Curatorial Work
  • Contact
×

Not My Daughter

Like most mothers, when I imagine future career choices for my daughter, hardcore pornography does not even make the list. And yet thousands of young women choose to make a living performing sex acts in front of the camera, which is not something that is easy for me to understand.

As a politically liberal Christian, I grew up being taught that while sex should be reserved for marriage, it is not my place to judge other people’s life choices. As a result, I tend to view pornography with equal parts acceptance, curiosity, repulsion, amusement, and yes, a certain level of condescension for those that perform it. But if I remind myself that each of these women is someone’s beloved daughter, I can confront my tendency to dissociate them from their humanity.

By rephotographing images of sexual penetration out of context, I am forcing myself to look past the sex act to see the woman performing it. I examine her face, her eyes, her gestures. I see determination, pain, defiance, and pleasure—or at least the performance of it. And I wonder, who is she?

I invite you now to spend some time getting to know these beloved daughters through another lens.

View fullsize Lily Love. December 11, 1991. Gulf Shores, AL.
View fullsize Adrianna Luna. May 12, 1984. Los Angeles, CA.
View fullsize Ash Hollywood. May 27, 1989. USA.
View fullsize Tessa Taylor. August 22, 1990. Virginia Beach, VA.
View fullsize Gabriella Paltrova. June 22, 1991. Chicago, IL.
View fullsize Alyssa Branch. February 17, 1992. Detroit, MI.
View fullsize Sunrise Adams. September 14, 1982. Como-Pickton, TX.
View fullsize Aubrey Addams. May 25, 1987. Westfield, NJ.
View fullsize Memphis Monroe. March 23, 1985. Louisiana.
View fullsize Avy Scott. November 2, 1981. Tampa, FL.
View fullsize Carter Cruise. April 24, 1991. Atlanta, GA.
View fullsize Melina Mason. May 26, 1990. Long Island, NY.
View fullsize Cameron Dee. June 28, 1986. Bellflower, LA.
View fullsize Giselle. April 13, 1977. Bristol, England.
View fullsize Cindy Starfall. November 28, 1989. Saigon, Vietnam.
View fullsize Skin Diamond. February 18, 1987. USA.
View fullsize Aubrey Luna. Birthdate Unknown. Birthplace Unknown.
View fullsize Dahlia Sky. August 10, 1989. Lake Elsinore, CA.
View fullsize Hannah Harper. July 4, 1982. Devon, England.
View fullsize Abella Anderson. May 16, 1988. Cuba.